Spitfire Mk.IX late series item No.
8281
1/48 Scale Plastic Model Kit
The Spitfire is so iconic aircraft, that virtually everyone can recognize it. The service of this elegant fighter spanned 13 years with RAF and even more with foreign air forces. It started the service at the end of biplane era and stayed in the frontline use until the jet age. By the early 30s the RAF was looking for replacement of its ageing Hawker Fury biplane fighters. The need of considerably faster aircraft was obvious, as the racing monoplane floatplanes of that time reached about twice the speed of the Fury. One of the most successful designers of the racing floatplanes was Reginald J. Mitchell. His Supermarine S.6B raised the world speed record to 407 mph (655 km/h) on 20 September 1931 and British Air Ministry, under influence of such achievement, issued the specification F.7/30 in October 1931. Although it called for modern pursuit airplane capable of at least 250 mph (400 km/h), seven out of eight entries were biplanes. The only monoplane proposal was Mitchel´s Supermarine 224, but the design with a gull wing, fixed undercarriage and Rolls-Royce Goshawk engine was a disappointment because of the lack of speed and poor rate of climb. After that the RAF chose the Gloster Gladiator biplane as the winner. Early work The fiasco with Type 224 did not prevent Mitchell from further work. He persuaded the Supermarine company to fund the work on completely new design Type 300 using brand new Rolls-Royce PV12 engine, later known as the Merlin. The Air Ministry expressed interest and issued specification F.37/34 on 28 December 1934 to fund the prototype armed with four wing mounted guns. But by early April 1935 Mitchell received the detail of specification F10/35, calling for eight guns. The change was made on cost of bomb provision removal and reduction of the capacity of the fuel tanks to sixty-six gallons. The decision caused the so called “short legs” of the Spitfire, meaning a lack of range and endurance. The Supermarine Type 300 made its maiden flight on 5 March 1936, initial contract to produce 310 Spitfires was signed in June 1936 and the first unit to receive the new fighter was No. 19 Sqn. at Duxford in August 1938. Catching the progress The development of Spitfire was ongoing process from very early stage of its service and incorporated many changes. From the early Mk. I and Mk. II the development was reaching the point, where a more substantial step was required. The Mk.V was a result, but it was in fact a Mk.I powered by the more powerful Merlin 45 series engine. The Mk.V entered the service from early 1941, helping the RAF to countermeasure development of the Bf 109. But in September 1941, a hitherto unknown German radial engine fighter emerged and started to rule the European skies. The new Fw 190 was superior to British fighters, most distressingly to the Spitfire Mk.V. The losses suffered by the RAF over western Europe rose rapidly and the crisis was serious enough that the RAF ceased most daytime operations during November 1941. The next attempt to resume this type of sorties was made in March 1942. But losses remained unacceptably high, and the RAF was forced to stop offensive operations once again. All this was due to the supremacy of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A.
© Eduard - Model Accessories, s.r.o. 2021
The first RAF response to the new situation was the Spitfire Mk.VIII, but the design changes were so complex that initiating timely production was not possible. In June 1942, a German pilot landed on a British airfield by mistake delivering a completely intact Fw 190A fighter into RAF hands. Comparative trials between the Focke-Wulf and Spitfire Mk.V began almost immediately and verified the situation over the front – the chance of a Spitfire Mk.V to survive an encounter with the Fw 190s was rather poor. The only British fighter aircraft deemed suitable to oppose the German fighter were the Spitfires Mk.VII and Mk.VIII powered by the Merlin 61 engine. But these marks required some time to get into production, so another way of getting a powerful fighter as quickly as possible was sought. And it was found in mating the two-stage supercharger Merlin 61 with the fuselage of the Spitfire Mk.Vc. The Saviour Flight trials of two modified Mk.Vs were successful and the order for series production was issued immediately. Series production began in June 1942 and the first Mk.IXs found their way to No. 64 Squadron in July. Performance improved significantly in comparison to the Mk.V. The top speed of 409 mph (658 km/h) at 28,000 feet (8530 m) was higher by 40 mph (64 km/h), and the service ceiling rose from 36,200 ft (11,033 m) to 43,000 ft (13,106 m). The Mk.IX began to replace the Mk.V from June 1942. Thanks to the new fighter, the RAF was ready to fight against the Luftwaffe over occupied Europe. Three main variants of the Mk.IX were produced. The F Mk.IX was powered by the Merlin 61 and was the only version on the assembly line in early 1943. The next was the LF Mk.IX powered by the Merlin 66. This engine was designed to do its best at low-to-medium attitude. The third version, manufactured along with the LF, was the high-altitude HF Mk.IX with the Merlin 70. The majority of Mk.IXs manufactured were equipped with the so-called C-type wing. Four 20mm cannon or two 20mm cannon and four .303 in machine guns could be installed in the wings. From 1944, the strengthened E-type wing was produced. Four outer .303 machine guns were replaced with two .50 in heavy machine guns installed in the inner bays. Bomb racks for 250lb bombs were fitted under each wing. The Kit: Mk.IXc late production The Mk.IXc design developed during the production in several areas. As the “universal” C-type wing was intended to accommodate up to four 20mm cannons, the large blisters allowing such as installation were retained. But the four cannons armament proved quite heavy for Spitfire, so the blisters were narrowed in late series, as the two cannons were mounted in the inner position of the double cannon bays. The Merlin 61 engine was replaced by the Merlin 63 unit early in 1943, giving the Mk.IXc some additional power. The Mk.IX became the second most numerous mark of the Spitfire with a total of 5653 examples built.
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8281-NAV1
ATTENTION
UPOZORNĚNÍ
INSTRUCTION SIGNS
BEND OHNOUT
OPTIONAL VOLBA
INSTR. SYMBOLY
SAND BROUSIT
PARTS
OPEN HOLE VYVRTAT OTVOR
DÍLY
ACHTUNG
ATTENTION
INSTRUKTION SINNBILDEN
SYMETRICAL ASSEMBLY SYMETRICKÁ MONTÁŽ
REVERSE SIDE OTOČIT
REMOVE ODŘÍZNOUT
TEILE
SYMBOLES
APPLY EDUARD MASK AND PAINT POUŽÍT EDUARD MASK NABARVIT
PIECES
PLASTIC PARTS
A>
C>
E> 8280 C
8280 A
8280 E
F>
G> 8280 F
8280 G
COLOURS
BARVY
GSi Creos (GUNZE)
2
MISSION MODELS
FARBEN
PEINTURE GSi Creos (GUNZE)
MISSION MODELS
AQUEOUS
Mr.COLOR
PAINTS
H4
C4
MMP-007
YELLOW
H11
C62
MMP-001
H12
C33
H13
C3
H33
C81
H51
C11
MMP-063
LIGHT GULL GRAY
H52
C12
MMP-091
OLIVE DRAB
MC214
MMM-001
DARK IRON
H74
C368
MMP-080
SKY
MC218
MMM-003
ALUMINIUM
H77
C137
MMP-040
TIRE BLACK
Mr.COLOR SUPER METALLIC
METALLICS
H90
C47
CLEAR RED
SM201
MMC-001
AQUEOUS
Mr.COLOR
H94
C138
FLAT WHITE
H330
C361
MMP-077
DARK GREEN
MMP-047
FLAT BLACK
H335
C363
MMP-094
MEDIUM SEAGRAY
MMP-003
FLAT RED
H335
C362
MMP-093
OCEAN GRAY
RUSSET
H335
C364
MMP-079
AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN
Mr.METAL COLOR
PAINTS CLEAR GREEN
METALLICS
SUPER FINE SILVER
MMP C364 079
H12 MMP C33 047
MC218 MMM 003
GRAY-GREEN
FLAT BLACK
H12 MMP C33 047
F28 H12 MMP C33 047
F1
ALUMINIUM
FLAT BLACK
F7
FLAT BLACK
F42 MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
F41
MC218 MMM 003
F25
F26
H12 MMP C33 047
ALUMINIUM
MC218 MMM 003
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
ALUMINIUM
FLAT BLACK
H12 MMP C33 047
H51 MMP C11 063
F5
FLAT BLACK
F27
F19
GRAY
F82
F35
F34
F56
H12 MMP C33 047 FLAT BLACK
F40 MMP C364 079
MMP C364 079
GRAY-GREEN
GRAY-GREEN
F82 PE22 MMP C364 079
MMP C364 079
GRAY-GREEN
F40
GRAY-GREEN
F35
F5
F18
F18
F64 H33 C81 RUSSET
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
F64
F31
F3 F65
MMP C364 079
PE23
H12 MMP C33 047
GRAY-GREEN
F81
FLAT BLACK
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
F16
F61
F47
F17
H33 C81 RUSSET
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
F60 3
H12 MMP C33 047
F32
MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
PE11
FLAT BLACK
PE6
MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
H12 MMP C33 047 FLAT BLACK
PE8 MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
PE12 PE10 PE16
F32
PE15 F46 MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
F38
PE9 PE5 OPTIONAL: decal 45 PE4
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
F23 F16
F66
F43
H12 MMP C33 047 FLAT BLACK
PE2
OPTIONAL: decal 46 PE3
PE1
A9
H12 MMP C33 047 FLAT BLACK
A9
F4 A4
MMP C364 079 MMP C364 079
H12 MMP C33 047
A4
GRAY-GREEN
GRAY-GREEN
F62
FLAT BLACK
A
MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
F29
MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
F30 MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
4
F1
FOR CLOSED CANOPY ONLY E9
F14
E1
F15
MC218 MMM 003
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
ALUMINIUM
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
E1
G58
- 1 mm
A
F33 H12 MMP C33 047 FLAT BLACK
C
B
E9
G64
B
C
F2 G57
E9
F6
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
H12 MMP C33 047
F39
FLAT BLACK UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G76
- 1 mm MARKING A ONLY
C3
- 1 mm MARKING A ONLY
5
G46 UNDERSURFACE COLOR
MC218
G15
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G68
ALUMINIUM
MC218 ALUMINIUM
G16 G47
G19 UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G20
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G67
C1
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
C2
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G17
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G61 G59
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G62 G60 G18
6
E2, E3 - MARKING
B
D
ONLY
G10
E
G12
F79
G10
E2
G44
E7
G5 G9 G5
G4
G43
G12 F74
E3
G11
G4 G11
E8
D
G9
E F80
MC214 MMM 001 DARK IRON
F73
F13 - MARKING A ONLY
F8
F13
GLUE PARTS F52 & F53 ONE BY ONE F53 F12
F52
7
F11 F72
H94 C138 CLEAR GREEN
F71
H90 C47 CLEAR RED
F E5
G1 PE19
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
MC218 MMM 003
PE18
ALUMINIUM
G27 E6
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G7
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G1 UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G29 MC218 MMM 003
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G13
ALUMINIUM
G8
MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
G28 UNDERSURFACE COLOR
F36
G30 MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
F
8
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G14
F10
G6
G6
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G37
G37
G36
ONLY
PE21
G49
G50
G34 MC218 MMM 003
G50
G35
ALUMINIUM
G36
G38
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
A
G38
G39
G39
PE21 - MARKING
G6
G6
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
G22
H77 C137
ALUMINIUM
TIRE BLACK
G35
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
MC218 MMM 003
H77 MMP C137 040 TIRE BLACK
G34
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
ALUMINIUM
G26
G49
MC218 MMM 003
G25
G21
REMOVE FOR UNDERCARRIAGE LOWERED
REMOVE FOR UNDERCARRIAGE LOWERED
MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
PE21 PE21 - MARKING
A
ONLY
A2
9
TIRE BLACK
MC218 MMM 003
F48
H77 MMP C137 040
MC218 MMM 003
H77 MMP C137 040
TIRE BLACK
ALUMINIUM
F49
F55 UNDERSURFACE COLOR
ALUMINIUM
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
F57
F21
G
H
F68
F70
J
F83
G66
A1
MMP C364 079
MMP C364 079
GRAY-GREEN
GRAY-GREEN
PE20 MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
K
G65
PE17
PE14 PE20
FLAT BLACK
A11
G63
MMP C364 079 GRAY-GREEN
F54
A5
F51
F37
G41 G73
G G73 10
G41
MMP C364 079 H12 MMP C33 047
GRAY-GREEN
A8
CLOSED CANOPY
OPEN CANOPY
J A8 J A1 K
A12
K
F83 H
F68 H F70 H
F22
F50
H52 MMP C12 091 OLIVE DRAB
F67
F44 MARKING A ONLY
F45 MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM
F20
UNDERSURFACE COLOR
F22
F69
F63
H52 MMP C12 091 OLIVE DRAB UNDERSURFACE COLOR
PE7 F44
MARKING A ONLY
F45 UNDERSURFACE COLOR
F63
PE13 UNDERSURFACE COLOR
- 0,3 mm
11
A
B
C
D
E
F
Spitfire Mk.IXc late version 38
30
28
8
2
? 43
STENCILING POSITIONS ?9
? 29
3
43
36 10 6 44 12 ? 13 35 25 ? 24
EARLY IXc ONLY
35
?
32
23
23
32
1 31
? 34
EARLY IXc ONLY
?
1
16 6
´E´ WING ONLY
5 ?4
6 14 25 ? 24
26
36
6
21 15
35
6
27
35 13
6 7 6 7
17
22
26
44
27
14 35
? 33
6
´E´ WING ONLY
7 6 7 10 6
10
19 27
27
36
35 20
18 11
11 37
39 43
43
6 10
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© EDUARD M.A. 2021
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